Tool for opening and closing the links of chains.



L. 00mm.

TOOL FOR OPENING AND CLOSING THE LINKS OF CHAINS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 1908.

1,106,439. Patented Aug 11,1914.

iffy 164a; dfmm 1104 awnrrr oisirricn LOUIS CGNNE, CHIGAGQ, ILLINQIS, ASEIGHQR F ONE-HALF T0 HENRY ISAACJ$, Oil

CHIGAGO,

ILLINOIfi.

TOOL FOR OPENING AND GLQSING Tit-LE LINKH 0F CHAINS.

fipeclfication of Letters Ilatent. Pwbentagfl Aug jljl, 1914p ,plicstlon filed July h, 1908. Serial No. 44%,463'.

i To an it may concern 1 ing the Links of Chains, of which I do deolare the following a) be a full, clear, and exact description, reference being'had to the accompanying. drawing, forming part of this specification.

The present ihvention, while susceptible of use inother situations, is more particu larly designed to allord a simple and cilicient means for readily applying antiskidding chainl: to the tires of automobile wheels or removing such chains therefrom.

The invention consists in the tool hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawin and particularly defined in the claim at t e end 035 this specification. Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of a tool embodying my invention, the tool be-- shown in the actor opening a chain Fig. 2 iso viewin side elevation showing thetool as used in closing a chain link. Fig 3 is a back view of the tool. Fig. 4 is a detail view showing one of the links of a chain for use in connection with which the tool is particularly well adapted.

Iily 'improved tool comprises two opposjaws'A and B that are united together by a pivot bolt C. The jaws are furnished, respectively, with handles A. and B that will he of sufficient length to give the required leverage. The jaw A is formed with a curved seat aadapted to receive the end portion of a. chain link that is to be opened or closed. The seat a extends from the end of the jaw A to approximately the line of intersect-ionof the jaws A and B, so. that when a chain link W is placed within the seat a it will be held against the connection of the opposing jaw. The body I) of the jaw B is formed with a wedge-shaped end 6, and this wedge-shaped end 6 of the jaw B is so broad that in opening a chain link W it simultaneously spreads both oi"v the'free ends w of thewire of which the link is composed. An elongated space 6 is "formed between the body I) and the wedge shaped end I) of the jaw B, this elongated space'b serving to admit the ends to of the link W, and thereby enabling the wedgeshaped end I)" of the jaw B tospread the ends to of the link when the link is to be opened. By reference more particularly to Fig. 3, it will be seen thatthe body portions the jaws A and B are expanded, as shown, n order to give the required width to the aws,

hen the tool is used for opening a chain link one end of said link will rest within the seat a of the jaw A. When the link is in such position the wedge-shaped end of the jaw B will be forced between the free ends to and the body of the chain link, thereby forcing the ends to away from the body of the link, and the elongated space 5 of the jaw l3 permits the wedge-shaped end 6 of the jaw to close tlOMll toward the end of the link.

l hen the tool is used for closing the ends to of a chain link, said link will be placed in the seat c of the jaw A, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, and the wedge-shaped end Z) of the jaw B will then he forced down upon the ends w of the link until these end.

are bent inward sulliciently toward the body of the link.

It will thus be seen that my invention provides an exceedingly simple and eilicient means whereb nthe links and chains may be quickly opened and closed, and the invention is especially advantageonstfor applying chains to the tires of automobile wheels or removing thechains therefrom, as this has heretofore been done by the slow and on satisfactory use of a chisel and hammer.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim new and desire to-secnre by Letters Petent,.is:

A; tool for opening and closing chain links comprising two pivoted, relatively long and short, opposing jaws of substantially the same width, each of said jaws having a broad, wedge shaped, edge and a handle, said relatively short jaw having a recessed, curved sea-t, arranged substantially in line with its handle and extending from its edge to approximately the line of intersection of the jaws, ahd adapted to receive the looped end of a chain link in the opening and closing operations, said relatively long jaw being ll-shaped with the inner faces of the side portions thereof substantially parallel to jaw being arranged to close inside of and adjacent the edge of the opposite, relatively l tively long, U-shaped jaw without pinching short jaw, wiith its inner face substantially the same substantially as described.

at ri ht an es to the seat of said relatively 1 short jaw 5 nd spaced apar -13mm the inner LOUIS CONNL' portions of both of said jaws, whereby the l lVitnesses: spread portions at the end of the chain link CLARA A. NORTON, may be received in the recess of said rela- I KATfncRINE GERLACH. 

